Next Generation of Immersive Experiences

AHRC/EPSRC Research and Partnership Development call for the Next Generation of Immersive Experiences

(December 2017 to August 2018)

The i-word, “immersion”, is increasingly in demand from clients in visitor and cultural attractions. This can mean many things, including large video-mapped installations, 360° films, ambisonic sound or explorations into VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) in-site specific contexts. However, we find that there are a number of obstacles to its wider take-up: audience perception, technical constraints, the day-to-day operational concerns of managers, investment in technology and the demands of creating truly immersive media.

The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and ISO design propose an interdisciplinary pilot project in the context of a ‘Next Generation of Immersive Experiences’ that takes a holistic view of the issues around practical design, development and deployment of an Immersive Experience related to the themes of Place and Memory. It will focus on creating a prototype immersive exhibit using the Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art as an exemplar.

Our proposed outputs as part of the project will be not only be a digital AR/VR experience, but also a preliminary set of standards relating to this technology which will help mitigate real and perceived obstacles that currently obstruct deployment of this technology more widely throughout the sector for diverse user-groups.

This is an innovative approach to furthering the deployment of a new generation of immersive content, experiences, and services across the creative industries in that it focuses not solely on the end-user but on how industry professionals are critical voices that must be included in the conversation if projects are to be successful.

The School of Simulation and Visualisation @ The Glasgow School of Art